Red Sox Have the Pieces to Land Tarik Skubal. Here’s the Trade That Works.

The Boston Red Sox were 10-17 to start the season. Alex Cora got fired. They sat six games out of a Wild Card spot in mid-June. Now they’re 51-48 and riding a 14-game winning streak. That’s not a typo. And if they want to turn this weird, improbable season into something real, there’s one move that makes too much sense: trade for Tarik Skubal.

The Detroit Tigers lefty is having a monster year. He’s a Cy Young contender, and everybody knows it. The Tigers have made it clear what they want back: outfield prospects and an MLB-ready arm. Boston has both. Here’s how the deal could work.

The Outfield Piece: Kristian Campbell

The Tigers are loaded with infield prospects but thin in the outfield. Campbell played 67 games with Boston in 2025, mostly at second base, hitting .223 with a .319 OBP. Not eye-popping, but he was 23 and solid. This year in Triple-A, he’s played almost exclusively in the outfield — 74 games, all but seven in the grass. He’s hitting .220 with a .353 OBP and 25 RBIs. The numbers won’t blow you away, but his speed, plate discipline, and defensive improvement are real. With added power, he profiles as a 20-20 guy at the top of a lineup. That’s exactly what Detroit needs.

The MLB-Ready Arm: Connelly Early

The Tigers want a pitcher who can step into their rotation now. Payton Tolle is the guy Boston would prefer to keep, and they probably will. So the next name is Connelly Early, a 24-year-old lefty. In 17 starts this season, he’s 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. His fastball sits 93-94 early but drops to 90-91 the third time through the order. If he can hold that velocity, he’s a mid-rotation guy. Even as is, he’s a solid fourth or fifth starter with a plus changeup and above-average sweeper. Detroit could develop him into a No. 2 or 3.

The Sweetener: Justin Gonzalez

This is the prospect who pushes the deal over the line. Gonzalez is 19, from the Dominican Republic, and currently playing for Greenville in High-A. He’s hitting .256 with a .372 OBP, 12 home runs, and six stolen bases. He can play all three outfield spots and first base. The Tigers have infield prospects coming out of their ears but nobody obvious at first, and Gonzalez’s arm is a weapon. He profiles as a right fielder next to Max Clark in center, letting Riley Greene or Kerry Carpenter DH. He’s raw — 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, and still filling out — but he’s the kind of ceiling play that makes a trade work for both sides.

The Red Sox would get a front-line starter without touching their major league core. The Tigers get a lottery ticket in Gonzalez, a potential everyday outfielder in Campbell, and an arm who can help now. Boston is climbing the standings, and this is the kind of move that turns a feel-good story into a real threat.